Insulated container for solid carbon dioxide



March 8 1 A. J. CORDRJEY INSULATED CONTAINER FOR SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed April 15, 1931 gvwmtoc Alma): J Gar/drag Patented Mar. 28, I 1933 UNITED STATES aws PATENT OFFHCE ALMON J. OORIOREY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO ZERO ICE CORPORATION,

- A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN INSULATED CONTAINER FOR SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Application filed. April 16,

This invention relates to apparatus for handling or utilizing solid carbon dioxide (CO as a refrigerant and for other purposes wherever desired, and comprises an 1mproved insulation, arrangement and construction for the walls of shipping and storage containers, refrigerators, coolers and display cabinets, in which solid carbon dioxide is enclosed or utilized -in liquid or gaseous condition to protect it against heat and to secure uniform distribution.

It is a well known fact that solid carbon dioxide, when exposed to atmospheric temperature and pressure, will 'sublimate or gasify, Without passing through the liquid phase, the gas produced being cold, substantially dry and an excellent insulator. The invention aims to take advantage of these properties of solid carbon dioxide for increasing its refrigerant value by utilizing the gas given off when exposed to heat for preventing access of heat-to the interior of the receptacle.

Further aims areto provide an improved arrangement, construction and insulation for shipping and storage containers, refrigerators, coolers, display cabinets and the like,

hereinafter referred to .inclusively as insulated receptacles, particularly adapted to protecting solid carbon dioxide or other gas forming refrigerant from external heat.

The invention also comprises a metallic structure having double walls filled with porous insulation, and provided with pressure tight. inner and outer faces for preventing leakage-of the gaseous refrigerant and its escape'below the tops thereof, and interior in some embodiments it is advantageous to provide baflies for preventingcirculation through the wall insulation except in a serpentine course from within to without, as hereinafter described.

Further details of the invention appear from the description of the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, comprising a part cross-section and part perspective view of side walls, bottom and removable cover of a box-like container.

In the receptacle shown in the drawing, which in its general purposes and construc- 1931. Serial No. 530,622.

tion may be taken as typical of any shipping or storing or dispensing container, the top 11 and bottom 12 are provided with inner and outer metallic liners or facings between which is packed a porous insulating material 13, in the embodiment shown comprising comminuted or ground and dehydrated cork, care being taken to'secure uniformly small particles free from dust and to pack them evenly under slight compression to prevent segregation or fissures and permit uniform permeation by the' refrigerant gas.

The sides preferably comprise inner and outer metallic walls 14, 15, between which there may be vertically disposed bafiies 16, secured at their upper edges tothe coping or frame 17 to which the upper edges of the side walls are also fastened, and which is suitably shaped to support the cover. Spaced packing strips 18 may be placed between the frame 17 and lower edge of the cover to seal the joint.

The liners, facings and side walls are lapped and secured together at their adjoining edges by rivets, welds or other suitable means to form a rigid, strong container.

The lower edges of the baflles 16 are spaced above the bottom facing of the receptacle, and rows of holes 19, 20 are provided along the top edges of the inner and outer side walls 14, 15 immediately below the frame 17 to promote circulation of gas through the side wall insulation, as shown by the arrows in the figure.

The gas evolved by solid carbon dioxide,

After all air has been expelled from the container, further evolution of CO gas will cause a current of gas to overflow the holes 19 and flow slowly down on the inner sides examples.

with CO gas, which in itself is an excellent insulator, and whichalso removesall but traces of moisture from the cork or other solidinsulating material in the walls, therethe insulation in its most eifiby maintaining cient condition.

Notwithstanding. that the specific heat of the cold gas passing through the sidewalls is low, its volume is large, audit will pick up heat entering the insulation from without and "carry italongmuntil: it.is discharged;

through the holes '20 in-a: relativelychighly; superheated condition. .,-Thus there will .be a I I I v 1 of, said :ba'llie. dividing the: insulation into fairly uniformly decreasing heat gradient between the exteriorzof the receptacle and the inner walls thereof-,and only enough heat will reach the interior to produce the slight amount of gas required to maintain an .efi'ec tive flow through". the insulation. i The spacing of :the holes 19 around the walls of the receptacle promotes uniforindis- .icibution of the g ;as, within the receptacle, as outward flowrisvthereby inducediin all directions, and tends to maintain uniform tel perature conditionswithin the receptacle.

It is obvious that,'-infthe form of invention illustrated, the cover 11 may be removed from time to time to give ac'cessto theconteiits of the receptacle without. seriously disturbing.

the flow of CO gas through the insulation,

gas tigl1t.f&96$,,the,inner face, being 'ed at the topto permit passage 0' mit passage of gas from within the receptacle into the intervening wall space, porous insulation in said intervening space, and a sheetlike bafiie extending downward from the top edge of said wall and terminating above the lower edge thereof, said baffle dividing the insulatioirinto layers communicating-at their lower edges, andfperforations in the outer wall face to permit escape of gas from said intervening space.

L An insulated' -recepta cle for solid CO comprisiii'g'a's ide wall having inner and outer perforatgas from within thewreceptacle into the intervening wall spaceQpoi-Oiisinsulation in said intervening, spacmaand; a sheet-likejbafie extending. downward from the top edge ofsaidwall and, terminating abovathe lower edge there- I la ers' communicatin gat-their, lower ed es,

-j and erioi'ationsinthetc ed es of the outer walllface topermitescape off-gas from said intei'vening spaceafter passing down on themuner side offsaid bafieandup on the outer. side thereof to absorb moisture andlieat within said Walls.

because the cold'gas is, so very much heavier than air that little air will enter the receptacle through its open top, and such as does will be quickly cooled and gradually driven .out through the holes, 19.

An insulated receptacle-for solid CO comprisinggside ,walls having innerend outer gas tight faces, theinner faces being perfoa rated atone edge to permit, passage of gas fromwithin th'e receptacle into the interven: ing wall; space, porous insulation in said in-' tervening space and baflies extending verth call-y between ,saidwalls and ternnnating short of one ofthe edges thereof, said bafies dividing the insulation-into layers communi-= I at at the ho fi-ede'e iq s i b fi and perforations in the outer wall faces t o permit the escapeof-gas from said intervening wall space.

For many purposes, containers having cylindrical side walls provided with concentric inner andouter metallic shells and baffies are.

advantageous; Icecream cabinets and bot tled water coolers and dispensers are common Thus theinvention may be applied to wide variety of' uses,;such as for shipping.

containers for perishable food productgautomobile truck and'railway car. bodies. and

com artments, refrigerators, display and ven mg cabinets, and other structures," wher-- ever it is desired to maintain a-lowternperature and inert atmosphere by the use-oi solidcarbon dioxide or other similar refrigerant material.

The invention is not restrictedto the form,

materials and construction of the receptacle.

illustrated, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isas follows:

1. An insulated receptacle fora substance vaporizable by heat, comprising a side wall havin inner and outer gas tight faces, the

inner ace being perforated at the top to per- 'qu danadehydra ed 1" -";u a I m ny'vheraofnl v islgne y; name to this-specification ,JALMOE s i n ist-1 claii 'l, having porous insulation comprising. 

